A/N: Thanks to SunflowerFran for her work as beta. Any mistakes are mine.

Warning: Physical violence ahead at the end of the chapter. Nothing too graphic though. No sexual assault anywhere in this story.


Emmett

"I've got something you need to hear, sir," Emmett said.

The man standing in the shadows of the old parking garage sneered. He didn't say anything for a moment, and in the silence, the slow drip-drip of water falling on concrete was clearly audible. Emmett shuffled his feet.

"Do you want me to play the recording?"

Caius waved his hand, irritated. "Go ahead."

Emmett took a step forward and drew a small object from his pocket. Bella's voice emerged from the device.

"No. I'm sorry, Edward. I don't want to drag this out any longer. I just can't live with the choices you've made. I think it would be best if you left now." A choked sob emerged from the tiny speaker.

Caius raised a brow.

"I just thought you ought to know, sir, that you don't have leverage over him anymore."

Caius's lips twisted with annoyance. "Are you sure this is real? He's a tricky bastard."

Emmett gave him a sly grin. "Definitely. I've been following them for a while and watching her stew. Yep, she's done with him."

"Ha. Who would have thought it?" Caius scratched his temple and paused for a moment in thought. "Then we'll go ahead with Plan B. Besides, I have another use for her anyway."

"Plan B?" asked Emmett.

"You have no need to know. Go. I'm done with you." He made an irritated brushing-off motion with both hands.

Emmett pocketed his device. "What use do you have for the girl?"

"You're far too curious for your own good."

Emmett shrugged, smirking. "Isn't that what makes me useful to you?"


Edward

Emmett darted out of the bushes and accosted him. "Captain! I'm glad I caught you. We need to talk."

Edward looked him up and down, bored. "What is it now? Not more of your 'bad news.' I already told you it was taken care of."

The expression on Emmett's face didn't change, but he said in a low voice, "We've got a real problem."

Edward raised one eyebrow.

"Caius and James are making their move sooner than we thought. There's something going on that I don't know about. We have to figure it out—I think it's something big. Something scary."

"Don't worry, Emmett. I've got it all under control."

Emmett shook his head. "I think there're a few things even you don't know. I hear Caius promised James the Captain's slot for real—as soon as he gets rid of you."

Edward scoffed. "If he thinks James can handle it, he's more stupid than I thought."

"They seem to think you're no longer so useful. I don't know what they've learned."

Edward raised a shoulder in dismissal. "They'll never be able to continue the synthesis without me. Not to mention the next steps in the plan."

"From what I heard, Caius thinks Marcus made a breakthrough and they're all set. He mentioned a 'Plan B.' I heard him telling James to move ahead with it."

Edward cocked his head. "Plan B?"

Emmett shrugged. "No idea."

"All right. Meet me back at the clubhouse in two hours."

Emmett's face twisted. "Wait. Did you find—"

Edward put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll take care of it."

Emmett examined his face carefully. Then he nodded slowly. "Okay."


Alice

"Jasper!" Alice rushed through the precinct door.

"The warrant?" asked Jasper.

"We got it. I'm assembling a SWAT team now. From what those kids said, they've got high security at the lab and a boatload of explosive chemicals."

Jasper shook his head. "How'd two kids — what, freshmen? How'd they find out all the details on this drug operation? You sure it's for real?"

"One of them claims he hacked into Aro Volturi's computer account. Who the fuck cares? Something shady's going on at that company and if it's good enough for the judge, it's good enough for me."

Jasper scratched the back of his head. "You rushed in a little too fast last time, didn't you?"

"Fuck that, Jasper!" Alice clenched her fists. "This is different. I got evidence from Edward as well."

"Evidence from a bunch of kids. You're on shaky ground."

"Hey, in this business you gotta take a few risks. I'm grabbing a conference room for the briefing. Are you in or out?"

He shrugged and bumped her shoulder gently. "You should know by now I always have your back, Alice. Even if you're a crazy cat lady."


Bella

I didn't want to go to school that morning. I knew I would see him, and I didn't want to. I didn't want to have to deal with all the explanations to my friends, all the questions.

Slowly, I put on my school clothes and packed my backpack. I made sure everything was well arranged, and I brushed my teeth carefully.

Then, my feet dragging, I set off out the door and down the street toward school. I had left later than usual so that I would arrive just as the final bell rang. The last thing I wanted this morning was to run into Leah and Jessica at their lockers.

I had actually cut it a little closer than I thought, so I had to run the last few minutes to make it to my first class on time. But I did, and I heaved my backpack to the floor beside my seat as the bell rang. Out of breath and sweating, I attempted to focus on what the teacher was saying.

Although what was the point of paying attention in school anymore? I didn't need good grades to work in the bakery. Nevertheless, I got out my book as directed. It was hard to give up the habit of being a good student.

The day dragged on forever. I kept half looking out for Edward in the halls, and not seeing him. I dreaded going to math class because he would be there and I would have to avoid making eye contact. But when I got there, he wasn't in his usual seat. The bell rang and he still hadn't arrived. Puzzled, I got out my homework. He rarely missed math class.

When the bell rang for lunch, I dumped my papers and books in my locker and shuffled off to the lunchroom. I passed by the table for two where Edward and I usually sat and walked further back into the room, to my old table, where Leah and Jessica were already sitting.

The two girls looked up in surprise.

"Eh, what's this? Are you slumming today?" asked Jessica with a grin.

"Where's Edward today?" asked Leah.

I slumped into the seat. Not making eye contact, I muttered, "I don't know. We broke up yesterday."

Instantly, I could sense the concern and sympathy from them that I had so wanted to avoid.

"Oh, Bella, I'm sorry." Leah put her arm around me.

Jessica's mouth hung open. "What happened? I thought you two were the perfect couple!"

"No," I said, "it just didn't work out for us."

"But why?" persisted Jessica.

"I guess…" I said, pausing for a long time as I looked down at my sandwich. I wondered if I could ever tell them the truth, that Edward was secretly the 'Captain' of Volterra, the most feared man in the school, a gang leader who reputedly had the blood of dozens of people on his hands, a man I had witnessed ordering a cold-blooded killing. But no. That was too dangerous a secret to burden Leah and Jessica with.

But despite it all, I realized that I was not afraid of him. I never had been, even at the end, when I had wondered what he was capable of and had suspected the worst. Even though I had heard all the rumors, now, about the Captain of Volterra and his fearsome deeds, I still could not bring myself to be afraid of him. I still had feelings for him, despite everything I knew. I still longed for his intense eyes to look at me with affection, to hear his deep voice murmuring gently that he loved me. Despite all his crimes, despite all the lies, I knew he had truly loved me, in a way that no one had ever loved me before. Or maybe would ever again. Tears swam in my eyes at the magnitude of what I had lost, what I had given up. Even though I knew it was the only thing to do.

"We just wanted different things from the relationship," I said lamely. Then I stuffed a big bite of cheese sandwich into my mouth so I didn't have to talk.

At home that afternoon, I had just started washing the chopping board and a couple of plates when I heard a key turning in the lock. Surprised, I let a dish clatter in the sink. Edward always knocked before he used his key; was he coming back?

But when the door swung open, I took a step back. It wasn't Edward.

It was James Witherdale, his eyes bright and manic, pupils constricted to pinpricks.

He grinned widely. "Hey, princess, long time no see."

"What are you doing in my house?" I demanded, hands on my hips. "Get out at once."

He leered at me. "I don't think so, sweetheart. You see, there's been a coup in Volterra. You're looking at the new Captain." He stuck his thumbs in his belt loops and smirked.

"What?" My jaw dropped. "What happened to—the former captain?" I wouldn't call him Edward in front of this slime ball.

He shrugged. "Who cares?" He loomed over me. "Anyway, you're coming with me." He grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the door.

"What? Wait!" I cried, trying to dig in my heels and pull away from him.

Casually, he punched me in the face.

Pain exploded in my head. I lost my balance and fell over backward. My head struck the corner of my coffee table and everything went woozy.

Just before my consciousness faded, James picked me up and slung me over his shoulder. "Oh yeah, princess, you're mine now. You're gonna be my ticket to the big time."